The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-24

knights Of Labor by certain dissent tiers from the
lction taken at tho Minneapolis convention. In
returning from the convention. about thirty
Ave Of the dissenting delegates stopped in Chi
ssgo, fully discussed the situation. and deter
mined to bring about a reorganization Of the
order. To this end provisional committee of
I've members was appointed, with Charles T.
Seib secretary. This committee held several
meetings to formulate plan OF action, and
6nally decided to publish the following mani
,estos
[cIRcULAR NO. !.
CHICAGO, Oct. %, 1887.
ITO the Rank and File Of the Order of the Knights of
Indignant at the usurpation of power, the
gross violation of the laws of order by
those high in authority; Disguised with those
whose loyalty to the present ring mas been gained
by the pickngs they receive as a reward for
their services; incensed at the favnlng
sycophants who crawl on their knees in slavIsh
submission TO the most corrupt, the most hypo-
CRITICAL, the most autocrauc END tyrannicai
clique that has ever controlled any labor organi-
cation, we therefore affirm the motto of our
order, that when bad combine
the good must associate, else they fall,
an implied sacrifice in contemplate
struggle We assert the hour has come when,
as honest men and women, we must deciare our
selves independent of those who have abused the
confidence reposed in them by order. Our
duty TO the workingm and women demands
that we at once reorganize the knights OF Labor
pm basis which will secure the autonomy of
the trades and the sovereignty OF the districts
In all pertaining their trade and local affairs.
and to prevent it from being used in the future
a machine to fill the Golfers of designing and
anscruiSpous men, as 1t Ia by those now In pow
We affirm the following to be the reasons
that have compelled this serious action on our
BART
''First-The general Office has become lux
urious haunt for men whose chief aim IS to bene-
ut self. pecuniarily and otherwise, and is
longer the Jerusalem of the humble and honest
Knight
year beginning prior to the Richmond SESSION.,
an understanding which, for lack OF better
word. we call conspiracy, for the purpose of
holding the salaried positions, elective and ap
pointive, in and under the General Assembly.
'Third-This conspiracy has used the secret
channels and the funds of the order to manufact-
ure sentiment for certain mem bers and against
Others. Certain persons, sometimes called gen
eral lecturers general organizers general in
structors,' and general many other things have
been paid extravagant sums. both as wages and
as expenses, when their only work was to fix
certain districts. The lobbyists of railroad cor
porations would turn green with envy did they
know the speculative excellence attained by
these bloodsuckers of the Knights of Labor
"Fourth-Organizers' commissions have been
refused to members who were known TO disagree
with the methods of the ring, though the appi-
cations We're indorsed by the district assembly
to which the applicant belonged and commits
sions were recalled because of the refusal of the
holders to fall down and worship the powers
that be.
"Fifth-District and local assemblies have
voice In the General Assembly because they
were known as opponents OF the policy OF the
conspirators.
"Sixth-C onspiracies have been Matched
against dissenting members by the aid of
rupt tools in the ID. A. or l.. A, or both, of such
mem bers.
have been liked and doctored SO as to rule out,
admit, as the case might be. General Assembly
represen tatives
Eighth-Men have been admitted delegates
TO the constitutional right to seats while others
were refused upon technicalities contrary to
Precsdent and established custom. In all cases
the test was tor or against the ring
Ninth (a)-Many thousands of dollars OF the
orders funds have been illegally expended, fire.
quently against the earnest profess of honest
and law abiding members
"(bl-Extrayagant hotel bills contracted BY
the families of general officers have been paid
out of the orders funds as have been family
laundry and bar bills
'1c)-Funds have peen donated and loaned to
officers and their friends for their own personal
use.
.IdJ-General officers and lecturers have not
only been paid liberal salaries and allowed heavy
expenses, but the general treasury has charged
additional sums to the locals and districts
"Tentn-Honest men devoted to the cause of
labor have been made the scape-goats of blunder-
ing high officials and driven in disgrace from
Observation-Disclosures made by assemblies to
better their condition have been strangled by
the ring. 1t Is charity to say for meaner
reason than in response to the clamor of the
common enemy OF labor
''Twelfth-The boycott has been used to in
jure the labor press, union establishments and
the products of Knights of Labor and union
labor, for the sole purpose of downing work
ingmen and women who could not be used by
the conspirators.
'Tnirteenth-Persons who were not members
of the order have been provided for personal
reasons. with lucrative positions in the general
office.
altered in an illegal manner; it has been
tempered with. and measures inimicai to the
order at large nave been railroaded into what is
called law
''Fifteenth-The war has been waged by the
administration ring against trades-unions and
trades districts The motto of the ring has been,
down with trades districts. extermiuats the
tradss.unions. This in spite of obligation
to extend helping hand to all branches Of hon.
orable toll.
Extraordinarily every important strike or
lockout In which the general officers have inter-
fered has been lost
''Seventeenth-As result of this laundering.
wisby- washy incoul ne cent and stupidity arbitra-
~ policy the membership Of the order has de-
creased 2l7 924 members in year.
"Eghteentn--In spite Of the decrease of men,
bership they have increased the annual expendi-
lures OF the General Assembly to half million
dollars.
''Ninetsenth-There was no itemized account
of receipts and expenditures issued, either quar-
terlv. as had formerly been the custom, or to the
General Assembly.
''Twentieth-In the General Assembly argu-
meuts met with buncombe; gag law was
reduced to system by the of the previous
question; outrageous decisions rendered;
appeals and protests icnored-all for the purpose
OF covering mp the rascality of those in power.
"Ail local and district assemblies accord
with the above declaration, or desiring informa-
ton, Will please address CHAs. +. SEIB,
Secretary Provisional Committee, $50 East
Washington street, Chicago"
LEATHER FROM HUMAN SKIN.
A Fiourishing Pennsylvania rannery Where
Co.